After the hectic whirl of the past few weeks – the launch of My Archipelago, the 60th Anniversary parties at The Castle - Louise and I decided to take a day out for a change of scenery and a spot of lunch. I called up a smart West Country restaurant and the exchange went like this: “Good morning! Can [...]
Archive for October, 2010
The pain of making a simple booking in a restaurant.
Posted in Hotels & Restaurants, Uncategorized, tagged My Archipelago, Restaurants in South West England, The Castle at Taunton, West Country restaurants on October 24, 2010 | 3 Comments »
The Castle at Taunton names new Head Chef
Posted in Hotels & Restaurants, Uncategorized, tagged Angela Hartnet, Gidleigh Park, Gordon Ramsay, Heston Blumenthal, Jamie Raftery, John Malachy Raftery, Marcus Wareing, Michael Caines, My Archipelago, Richard Guest, The Castle at Taunton, The Fat Duck Bray, The French Laundry Napa Valley, Thomas Keller on October 19, 2010 | 3 Comments »
With the imminent departure of Chef Richard Guest, on November 1st command of the stoves at Taunton’s Castle Hotel passes to 27 year old Jamie Raftery, son of the Irish poet, John Malachy Raftery. In just ten years, Jamie Raftery has harvested an enviable body of experience in preparation for his first full-time post as the top man. For several years, he worked [...]
Menu for a 60th Anniversary Dinner
Posted in Hotels & Restaurants, Uncategorized, tagged Alexander Waugh, Andrew Millington, Bernard Gregor-Smith, Bibendum, De Trafford Winery Stellenbosch, Domaine Saint-Abel, Dominic Chapman, Exeter Cathedral, Gary Rhodes, Godfrey Smith, Henry Blofeld, Jonathan Dimbleby, Jonathan Meyrick Dean of Exeter, Levon Chilingirian, Martin Bell, Michael Portillo, Moet & Chandon, My Archipelago, Nicholas Chapman, Richard Guest, Rosie Boycott, Santorini Winery Greece, Sir Andrew Milne-Watson, The Castle at Taunton, The Chilingirian Quartet on October 17, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Yesterday evening, Saturday, October 16th was a unique occasion. The most important celebration staged at The Castle in all our 60 years. A dinner devised and presented by Chefs Gary Rhodes, Richard Guest and our son, Dominic Chapman. The guests – 73 in total – included Henry Blofeld, Godfrey Smith, Martin Bell, Rosie Boycott, Alexander Waugh, Jonathan Dimbleby, Michael Portillo, [...]
A Landmark Moment in the History of The Castle and the Chapman Family
Posted in Hotels & Restaurants, Uncategorized, tagged Alfred the Great, Athelney, Chris Oakes, Gary Rhodes, King Arthur, My Archipelago, Phil Vickery, Richard Guest, Somerset Levels, The Castle at Taunton on October 9, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
The history of The Castle at Taunton reaches back a thousand years and more - to the age of Alfred the Great (who burned his cakes nearby at Athelney) and King Arthur (whose knights would have roamed the Somerset Levels). Our history as an hotel, inn or hostelry is a little shorter - some 350 years. Now, in [...]
Will too many cooks spoil the Anniversary Broth? Gary Rhodes stirs the pot!
Posted in Hotels & Restaurants, My writing, Uncategorized, tagged Amazon, BBC Radio 4 "Midweek", Dominic Chapman, Friends Book Choice, Gary Rhodes, Good Food Guide, Libby Purves, Moet & Chandon, My Archipelago, Richard Guest, Sir Michael Parkinson, The Castle at Taunton, The Royal Oak in Paley Street on October 3, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
The first of our 60th Anniversary parties is now less than a week away. My late-father, Peter, arrived at The Castle as a young manager in October 1950. So, this month is a moment when the Chapman family celebrates 60 years as custodians of The Castle at Taunton. It is significant for many reasons, not least because [...]
